Home - Test-blogCJPME Political Blog, April 2, 2015: Earlier this month, Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström had planned to deliver a speech on democracy and women’s rights at an Arab League conference in Cairo. Though it appears that her remarks were intended to be quite general in nature, she had planned to condemn the public flogging of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, which has made headlines in recent months. However, Wallström’s speech was quickly and effectively blocked by the delegation from Saudi Arabia who felt that the speech was “incompatible with the fact that the constitution of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is based on Sharia [law].” http://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/
Bill 62: Colonialism 101<div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 10px 25px;"><img class="img-polaroid" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/cjpme/pages/3946/attachments/original/1510763984/islamopho.png?1510763984" alt="islamopho.png" width="250" /></div>
<p><em><em>This article was originally published on November 10, 2017 on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/miranda-gallo/bill-62-is-the-result-of-a-countrys-failure-to-decolonize_a_23273460/" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a>.</em></em></p>
<p>Quebec recently passed Bill 62, a discriminatory law that restricts individuals from covering their faces when receiving government services. While many Quebeckers and Canadians across the country have expressed outrage at the blatantly Islamophobic nature of this bill, this Islamophobia is inherently connected to a much larger, disturbing phenomenon – that of colonialism. </p>
<p>Bill 62 does not exist in a vacuum. Yes, polarizing “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clash_of_Civilizations">Clash of Civilizations</a>” theories and our “<a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/war-on-terrorism">War on Terror</a>” political climate have, in recent decades, seemingly sparked an increase in Islamophobia. However, Islamophobia, the racial and religious prejudice directed toward the Muslim “Other”, has deeper roots in colonial practices and discourses that have existed for centuries. </p>Wed, 15 Nov 2017 11:36:00 -0500Miranda Gallohttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_11_15b
Canada Must Learn From Past Arms Sales Folly<div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 10px 25px;"><img class="img-polaroid" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/cjpme/pages/3945/attachments/original/1510763550/att.png?1510763550" alt="att.png" width="250" /></div>
<p><em><em>This article was originally published on November 14, 2017 on <a href="http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/2017/11/canada-must-learn-past-arms-sales-folly" target="_blank">Rabble.ca</a> and on <em><em>November 17, 2017</em></em> on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/thomas-woodley/canada-cant-pass-this-highly-flawed-arms-trade-bill-as-is_a_23277569/" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a>.</em></em></p>
<p>With each passing day, Canada’s <a href="https://ipolitics.ca/2017/11/09/canadian-military-exports-saudi-arabia-exploded-2016/">sale</a> to Saudi Arabia of $15 billion of light armoured vehicles looks more and more indefensible. A damning Globe and Mail survey in September <a href="https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/most-canadians-oppose-arms-deals-with-saudi-arabia-poll-finds/article36256402/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com&amp;">confirmed</a> what the media and political opponents had been saying for years: 64 percent of Canadians “opposed” or “somewhat opposed” the sale of arms to a country notorious for its human rights abuses. </p>
<p>Most Canadians know intuitively the deal was wrong despite <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/saudi-arabia-top-non-u-s-destination-for-canadian-arms-exports-federal-report-1.4172182">government claims</a> that Canada’s export controls are among the most stringent in the world. Canadians opposed this deal despite being repeatedly <a href="http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/reports-of-saudi-abuses-using-canadian-made-armoured-vehicles-cause-deep-concern-in-ottawa">reminded</a> that thousands of well-paying jobs in London Ontario would be lost if Canada reneged. While ex-Foreign Minister Stéphane Dion couldn’t make the connection between light armoured vehicles being used by the Saudis to violently suppress minority Shia protestors, Canadians <a href="https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/most-canadians-oppose-arms-deals-with-saudi-arabia-poll-finds/article36256402/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com&amp;">being surveyed</a> could. </p>Wed, 15 Nov 2017 11:25:00 -0500Thomas Woodleyhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_11_15
Israel is Being Singled Out – For Favouritism <div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 10px 25px;"><img class="img-polaroid" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/cjpme/pages/3798/attachments/original/1505315714/un.png?1505315714" alt="un.png" width="250" /></div>
<p><em>This article was originally published on September 15, 2017 on <a href="http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/views-expressed/2017/09/yes-israel-being-singled-out-favouritism" target="_blank">Rabble.ca</a> and on September 18, 2017 on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/miranda-gallo/israel-is-being-singled-out-for-favouritism_a_23210880/" target="_blank">The Huffington Post</a>.</em></p>
<p>This past June, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley slammed the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for “singling out Israel” for criticism. This is not a new line: the “singling out Israel” accusation is a decades-old tactic that Israel’s proponents use almost any time that Israel is challenged on its human rights record. The rise of the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement calling for economic pressure on Israel for its human rights violations has only amplified the use of this evasive tactic.</p>
<p>At best, critics of Israeli government policies can expect to be accused of imposing an unfair standard on Israel; at worst they can face allegations of anti-Semitism for supposedly singling out the country for criticism. For example, during Parliament’s 2016 debate over a motion to condemn BDS, about <a href="http://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/house/sitting-20/hansard">a dozen Liberal and Conservative MPs</a> toed this fictitious line when they declared, “Israel is singled out from the rest of the world.” In addition, a few MPs actually suggested that BDS supporters are the new face of anti-Semitism because they “selectively condemn Israel.”</p>Tue, 19 Sep 2017 11:08:00 -0400Miranda Gallohttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_09_19
Roger Waters' support For BDS strengthens his anti-war credibility<div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 10px 25px;"><img class="img-polaroid" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/cjpme/pages/3799/attachments/original/1505316390/waters.png?1505316390" alt="waters.png" width="250" /></div>
<p><em><em>This article was originally published on September 11, 2017 on <a href="http://www.rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/2017/09/roger-waters-support-bds-strengthens-his-anti-war-credibility" target="_blank">Rabble.ca</a> and on September 12, 2017 on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/thomas-woodley/roger-waters-support-for-israel-boycott-stirs-up-some-astounding-hyperbole_a_23203664/" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a>.</em></em><br><br>Most old popstars end their careers playing arenas in front of aging fans, milking old hits for every cent they're worth. Long past are the days when their politics were meaningful or relevant. But Roger Waters, the former front-man for Pink Floyd, is no ordinary musician. Waters' politics, in fact, still <a href="http://fortune.com/2016/03/15/bernie-sanders-israel-aipac/">strike fear</a> among some of the strongest political organizations in the world. All because Waters supports the <a href="https://bdsmovement.net/">international boycott</a> of Israel. </p>
<p>Waters is due to give a <a href="https://www.ticketmaster.ca/Roger-Waters-tickets/artist/736426">series of concerts</a> in Canada next month, and right on cue, Canada's pro-Israel lobby groups have <a href="http://www.bnaibrith.ca/an_invitation_to_the_canadian_premiere_of_wish_you_weren_t_here">mobilized aggressively</a> to badmouth him. The hyperbole in these campaigns is astounding. <a href="http://www.cija.ca/bdsishate/">According</a> to the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), for example, Waters "promotes vile discrimination" in a "bigoted campaign" targeting Israel. It sounds really nasty, until you look at what Waters is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=209&amp;v=Lj-xktoVmKQ">actually saying</a>.</p>Thu, 14 Sep 2017 11:23:00 -0400Thomas Woodleyhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_09_14
Israel's War Of Textbooks Comes to Canada<div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 10px 25px;"><img class="img-polaroid" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/cjpme/pages/3793/attachments/original/1505316058/kids.png?1505316058" alt="kids.png" width="250" /></div>
<p><em><em>This article was originally published on September 4, 2017 on <a href="http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/2017/09/israels-war-textbooks-comes-canada" target="_blank">Rabble.ca</a>.</em></em></p>
<p>For years, Israel's apologists have <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daoud-kuttab/gingrich-palestinian-textbooks_b_1270016.html">made headlines</a> accusing the Palestinians of using anti-Semitic textbooks. Recently, the battle came to Canada when B'nai Brith <a href="http://www.bnaibrith.ca/questionable_decision_government_to_provide_up_to_25_million_to_unrwa?utm_campaign=unrwafunding&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=bnaibrithcanada">attacked</a> the government's decision to fund the UN aid organization for Palestinian refugees (<a href="http://unrwa.org/">UNRWA</a>), suggesting UNRWA school textbooks demonized Israel. It is a cynical strategy which <a href="http://israelbehindthenews.com/groups-express-concern-unrwa-boosts-funding-palestinians/16381/">grabs headlines</a> when announced, but fails to make the news when such allegations are <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/18/opinion/palestinian-textbooks-where-is-all-that-incitement.html">debunked</a>. </p>
<p>When exploring the most recent incarnation of these accusations, it's important to mention a few realities conveniently omitted by Israel's champions. First, UNRWA has never been in the business of producing textbooks. Instead, UNRWA schools <a href="https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/education">use the textbooks</a> and curricula of the countries which host the refugees, i.e. the textbooks of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank and Gaza; and the textbooks of Jordan, Syria and Lebanon in those countries. This is because students who advance in their studies <a href="http://www.cjnews.com/news/canada/groups-concern-unrwa-boosts-funding-palestinians">must inevitably sit</a> for local exams.</p>Wed, 06 Sep 2017 10:09:00 -0400Thomas Woodleyhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_09_06
Give The Anti-Palestinian Rhetoric A Rest<div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 10px 25px;"><img class="img-polaroid" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/cjpme/pages/3792/attachments/original/1505316177/peace.png?1505316177" alt="peace.png" width="250" /></div>
<p><em><em>This article was originally published on August 31, 2017 on <a href="http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/2017/08/give-anti-palestinian-rhetoric-rest" target="_blank">Rabble.ca</a>.</em></em></p>
<p><em></em>Whatever its other failings, the Liberal government should be praised for its recent <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2017/08/canada_provides_supporttopalestinianrefugees.html">decision to contribute</a> $25 million to help millions of Palestinian refugees scattered throughout the Middle East. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (<a href="https://www.unrwa.org/">UNRWA</a>), the UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees is the recipient of the government's magnanimous gift. Canada's contribution will <a href="https://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/donor_ranking_with_un_agencies_overall.pdf">make up</a> about 1.5 percent of UNRWA's overall budget: of which 54 percent is spent on education, 17 percent on health care, and 9 percent on relief and social services.</p>
<p>A no brainer you might think: no one could possibly oppose such a humanitarian gesture. Wrong! </p>Tue, 05 Sep 2017 12:08:00 -0400Thomas Woodleyhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_09_05
Canada Must Do More Than Just Throw Money At Palestinian Refugees<p><em>This article was originally published on August 28, 2017 on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/thomas-woodley/canada-cant-just-throw-money-at-palestinian-refugees_a_23187419/" target="_blank">Huffington Post Canada</a>.</em></p>
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<p>Last Thursday, the Trudeau government announced another $25 million in aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees. Within hours, Canadian pro-Israel lobby groups had <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bnaibrith.ca/questionable_decision_government_to_provide_up_to_25_million_to_unrwa?utm_campaign=unrwafunding&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=bnaibrithcanada">criticized</a> the decision, dredging up spurious arguments to subvert any potential public sympathy for Palestinians, refugees or otherwise. But average Canadians can reasonably be excused for asking, "Why <em>should</em> Canada support Palestinian refugees?"</p>
<div id="entry_paragraph_1" class="ad_spot entry-body--paragraph-ad ">Believe it or not, Canada is partly to blame for the fact that there are over <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.unrwa.org/palestine-refugees" target="_blank">five million</a>Palestinian refugees today. The refugees today are the descendants of Palestinians who became refugees over several months between 1947 and 1948. Canada was one of the countries at the UN which <a rel="nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Partition_Plan_for_Palestine">voted</a> in 1947 to partition historic Palestine, which ultimately resulted in 700,000 Palestinians <a rel="nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_refugees" target="_blank">losing their homes</a> in the territory of what became the state of Israel.</div>Tue, 29 Aug 2017 14:09:00 -0400Thomas Woodleyhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_08_29
UWO Rejects Pressure From Israeli Lobby Group Over UN Special Rapporteur<div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 10px 25px;"><img class="img-polaroid" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/cjpme/pages/3806/attachments/original/1505405133/lynk.png?1505405133" alt="lynk.png" width="250" /></div>
<p><em><em>This article was originally published on August 8, 2017 on <a href="https://canadatalksisraelpalestine.ca/2017/08/08/uwo-rejects-pressure-from-israeli-lobby-group-over-un-special-rapporteur/" target="_blank">Canada Talks Israel Palestine</a>.</em></em><br><br>On July 20 an Israel lobby organization named <a href="https://www.unwatch.org/en/">UN Watch</a> wrote to Amit Chakma, President of the University of Western Ontario saying it was “shocked” to discover that Western has been providing Professor Michael Lynk with support for his “prejudicial mandate.” (According to the UN that mandate is <a href="http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/CountriesMandates/PS/Pages/SRPalestine.aspx">“to assess the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (and) report publicly about it”</a>.)</p>
<p>UN Watch is a Geneva based organization which describes itself as “concerned with the just application of UN Charter principles”. It is specially focussed on Israel and what it calls <a href="https://www.unwatch.org/about-us/mission-history/">“the disproportionate attention and unfair treatment applied by the UN toward Israel.”</a> Former Canadian Minister of Justice Irwin Cotler, a strong advocate of Israel, is on the UN Watch board of directors.</p>Tue, 08 Aug 2017 12:02:00 -0400Peter Larsonhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_08_08
Whats Up With Treyf a Debatably Jewish Podcast<div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 10px 25px;"><img class="img-polaroid" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/cjpme/pages/3805/attachments/original/1505401738/treyf.png?1505401738" alt="treyf.png" width="250" /></div>
<p><em><em>This article was originally published on August 1, 2017 on <a href="https://canadatalksisraelpalestine.ca/2017/08/01/whats-up-with-treyf-a-debatably-jewish-podcast/">Canada Talks Israel Palestine</a>.</em></em><br><br>A couple of years ago, two young Canadian Jews had a provocative idea: a series of critical podcasts about Jewish media and politics in Canada. They called it <a href="https://soundcloud.com/treyfpodcast">Treyf Podcast</a>. (Apparently ‘ Treyf’ is a Yiddish word for non-kosher food, or for not kosher in the more metaphorical sense, as in not legitimate.”)</p>
<p>Since then, Sam Bick and David Zinman have produced dozens of podcasts ranging from 20 to 40 minutes covering projects and perspectives otherwise sidelined by Jewish media.</p>Tue, 01 Aug 2017 11:06:00 -0400Peter Larsonhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_08_01
Canada's Flip-flop On West Bank Wines Betrays Canadian Consumers' Interests <p><em>This article was originally published on July 14, 2017 on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/thomas-woodley/flip-flop-on-west-bank-wines-decision-betrays-canadian-consumers_a_23030031/" target="_blank">Huffington Post Canada</a>.</em></p>
<p><em>This article was also published on July 14, 2017 on <a href="http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/2017/07/canadas-flip-flop-west-bank-wines-betrayal-consumers-interests" target="_blank">Rabble.ca</a>.</em></p>
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<p>With the recent flip-flop of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on the labelling and sale of West Bank wines in Canada, it's easy to wonder whose interest the agency serves. On July 6, CFIA <a href="http://globalnews.ca/news/3595732/lcbo-asks-vendors-to-stop-selling-west-bank-wines-labelled-product-of-israel/">issued</a> a directive to all Canadian liquor boards which some interpreted as necessitating a ban on the sale of two wines that CFIA considered falsely labelled as "Made in Israel." CFIA made a compelling argument, citing Canada's Food and Drugs Act, and the Government of Canada's official policy on the status of the West Bank.</p>
<p>This decision was triggered by a formal complaint launched by Dr. David Kattenburg of Winnipeg, and affected wines from Psȃgot Winery Ltd. and Shiloh Winery Ltd. In his complaint, Kattenburg demonstrated that both wineries are operating in the West Bank, and not in Israel proper, and neither winery uses grapes harvested in Israel, in violation of CFIA labelling regulations. </p>Tue, 18 Jul 2017 09:46:00 -0400Thomas Woodleyhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_07_18
Canada Now a Hawk On Nuclear Arms<p><em>This article was originally published on July 13, 2017 on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/thomas-woodley/canada-nuclear-arms_a_23028119/" target="_blank">Huffington Post Canada</a>.</em></p>
<p><em>This article was also published on July 14, 2017 on <a href="http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/2017/07/canada-now-hawk-nuclear-arms-proliferation" target="_blank">Rabble.ca</a>.</em></p>
<p> </p>
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<p>It’s official. Canada is now a hawk when it comes to the proliferation of nuclear arms. If any additional confirmation were needed, it was Canada’s absence at last week’s UN vote to ban nuclear weapons. But for those who have been following this file, this is only the latest of Canada’s hawkish gestures.</p>
<p>Canada’s failure to step up for last week’s nuclear weapons ban was criticized from many corners. “It’s shocking that Canada is not going to participate,” <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/nuclear-weapons-and-canada/article34335948/">asserted</a> former Canadian ambassador for disarmament, Douglas Roche back in March. Paul Meyer, another former Canadian ambassador for disarmament <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/nuclear-weapons-and-canada/article34335948/">described</a> Canada’s absence as “pathetic.” Project Ploughshares’ executive director Cesar Jaramillo <a href="https://www.hilltimes.com/2017/06/28/canada-self-chosen-minority-camp-nuclear-disarmament/111932">considered</a> it a hypocritical contradiction of the Trudeau government’s stated commitment to multilateralism. </p>Thu, 13 Jul 2017 11:11:00 -0400Thomas Woodleyhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_07_13
Trudeau Government Blocks Direct Flights to Beirut<p><em>This article was originally published on July 11, 2017 on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/thomas-woodley/what-is-it-about-direct-flights-to-beirut-that-scares-trudeau_a_23025036/" target="_blank">Huffington Post Canada</a>.</em></p>
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<p>For years, Lebanese Canadians flying to Beirut have had to endure exhausting layovers in Europe. But recent hopes that the Trudeau government would approve direct flights to Beirut were dashed with a <a href="https://twitter.com/DuncanBureau/status/884380901823700992">tweet</a> from an Air Canada executive early Monday. Duncan Bureau, VP Global Sales for Air Canada tweeted that the government had rejected their application, commenting, “Huge disappointment for us and [the] Lebanese community here.” </p>
<p>Bureau’s comments were echoed by the Lebanese community on social media. Comments to a post about the refusal on Facebook were both sceptical and critical. One individual <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DirectFlightMontrealBeirut/photos/a.1294887163864861.1073741828.1292928597394051/1512581782095397/?type=3">wrote</a>, “Trudeau will not be re elected in the next election. […] Pathetic decision Justin.” On Twitter another <a href="https://twitter.com/belle_province/status/884536981702803457">wrote</a>, “Shame on @JustinTrudeau &amp; @liberal_party for discriminating against the Lebanese-Canadian community.” </p>Wed, 12 Jul 2017 12:38:00 -0400Thomas Woodleyhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_07_12
Niki Ashton represents new breed of Canadian leader<p><em>This article was originally published on May 26, 2017 in the <a href="http://www.torontosun.com/2017/05/26/niki-ashton-represents-new-breed-of-canadian-leader" target="_blank">Toronto Sun</a>.</em></p>
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<p>Earlier this week, the Toronto Sun published an op-ed entitled, “NDP MP Niki Ashton has made her priorities clear.” While I disagree with virtually everything the op-ed sought to assert, I do agree with the title, as indeed, it is clear that <em>the rights of the oppressed</em> are the priority in Ms. Ashton’s distinguished political career. </p>
<p>Since she won her seat in Parliament in 2008, Ms. Ashton has been a champion for a broad variety of social issues. She has spoken out repeatedly for the rights of women, and how women suffer wage discrimination and other systemic obstacles in Canada. She has also long been a proponent of LGBTQ rights, supporting same-sex marriage and other social rights for such groups since the beginning of her political career. </p>Fri, 26 May 2017 16:26:00 -0400Thomas Woodleyhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_05_26
Abuse of Prisoners Is Intolerable, Whether in Palestine or Northern Ireland<p><em>This article was originally published on May 23, 2017 in the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/thomas-woodley/palestine-prisoners-abuse_b_16745452.html" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a>.</em></p>
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<p>In my final year of high school in the spring of 1981, headlines in North America chronicled the long decline of Irish Republican hunger striker, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Sands">Bobby Sands</a>. It was my first introduction to “The Troubles” of Northern Ireland, but I came through that period with a better understanding of the two sides of that conflict.</p>
<p>While many Canadians might not realize it, there is a hunger strike going on today that is just as significant as that of Bobby Sands and the other Irish Republicans in 1981. Led by Marwan Barghouti, <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2017/05/timeline-palestinian-mass-hunger-strikes-israel-170510130007023.html">hundreds of Palestinians</a> in Israeli jails are five weeks into a hunger strike. Yet because North American media are ignoring the strike, Canadians are hardly wiser to the plight of the Palestinian prisoners. Unfortunately, any time Israel is involved, it is nearly impossible to get North Americans to address the realities of the situation. </p>Tue, 23 May 2017 16:18:00 -0400Thomas Woodleyhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_05_23
Canadian Politicians Can’t Cherry Pick Malala Yousafzai’s Message<p>This article was originally published on April 18, 2017 on <a href="https://ricochet.media/en/1769/lost-in-the-hype-malalas-real-message" target="_blank">Ricochet</a>.</p>
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<p>Canadians should be proud to have hosted Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai last week. She is an inspiration not only for what she has accomplished in her brief 19 years on earth, but for the causes she represents and defends: foremost the right for all girls around the world to have access to education. Her wisdom, humility and poise before Canada’s Parliament should be an inspiration to all: men and women, young and old alike.</p>
<p>But hosting someone such as Yousafzai is about more than just photo ops, and “feel good” press statements. It should be cause for reflection on our own action – or inaction – on the issues she raises. And for all practical purposes, Canada’s political leaders are worlds apart from Yousafzai.</p>Fri, 12 May 2017 16:50:00 -0400Thomas Woodleyhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_05_11
Liberals Largely Insincere On Arms Trade Treaty Bill<p>This article was originally published on April 25, 2017 on <a href="https://ricochet.media/en/1779/liberal-government-weaseling-out-of-global-responsibilities-for-arms-control" target="_blank">Ricochet</a>.</p>
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<p>When the Trudeau government introduced Bill C-47 earlier this month to accede to the international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), it was one of those situations where you didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. You could be thankful that the government is finally stepping up to international standards for arms control. But then you could cry too, as the Trudeau government seems intent on maintaining existing loopholes in Canada’s international arms dealings.</p>
<p>Looking at the positive side, Canada is finally taking steps to align its existing arms export control mechanisms with a higher UN standard. Despite Canadians’ mythological self-image as a peace-loving nation, Canada<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/arms-trade-treaty-1.4070539">will be the last</a> of its G7 and NATO allies to sign on to the ATT. </p>
<p> </p>Fri, 12 May 2017 16:36:00 -0400Thomas Woodleyhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_05_12
Dysfunction at the UN: The Saudis aren’t the only ones to blame<p>This article was originally published on May 3, 2017 in <a href="https://ricochet.media/en/1795/dysfunction-at-the-united-nations-the-saudis-arent-the-only-ones-to-blame" target="_blank">Ricochet</a>.</p>
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<p>The UN has once again managed to dumbfound the world: last week the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was <a href="https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/ecosoc6824.doc.htm">elected</a> to the organization’s Commission on the Status of Women. In Canada, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/04/24/michelle-rempel-trudeau-saudi-arabia-un_n_16209524.html">led the parade</a> of outraged politicians – and rightfully so. With its laws circumscribing the rights of its women, Saudi Arabia is in no position to lead a UN organization “<a href="http://www.unwomen.org/en/csw">dedicated</a> to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.”</p>
<p>The rights of Saudi women are inevitably <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/middle-east-and-north-africa/saudi-arabia/report-saudi-arabia/">subordinated</a> to the men in their lives. Among other things, Saudi men have dominant rights in regards to marriage, divorce, child custody and inheritance. Under Saudi Arabia’s guardianship laws, women cannot seek higher education, take a job or travel without permission from their male guardian. Read Ensaf Haidar’s biography Raif Badawi, The Voice of Freedom for a vivid example of how such laws engender hopelessness, depression and fear among the Kingdom’s women. Suffice it to say that Saudi Arabia is not in a position to promote women’s rights or shape global standards on gender equality, as the Commission intends.</p>
<p> </p>Wed, 03 May 2017 15:51:00 -0400Thomas Woodleyhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_05_03
50 Years Of Israeli Occupation Is Far Too Long<p>This article was originally published on April 24, 2017 in the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/thomas-woodley/israeli-occupation_b_16208150.html" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a>.</p>
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<p>In just a few weeks, the world will witness a remarkable and sobering milestone. By June, 2017, Israel will have been a military occupying power in the Palestinian territories for 50 years. Given the West’s blasé attitude, you might think this anniversary were inconsequential, but for millions in the Middle East, their hope and future depend on a shift from the <em>status quo</em>. </p>
<p>Some Canadians take a fatalistic attitude to the occupation and associated strife, making comments like, “the conflict will never end,” or, “they’ve been fighting for thousands of years” – neither of which is true. But regardless of the myths and the cynicism, 50 years of military occupation is far too long, and international players – including Canada – need to get serious about bringing it to an end. This crippling standoff between Israelis and Palestinians represents a ongoing failure in international diplomacy, and remains a source of ongoing strife in the broader Middle East.</p>Mon, 24 Apr 2017 16:07:00 -0400Thomas Woodleyhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_04_24
Trudeau’s Simplistic Approach Won’t Work In Syria<p><em>This article was originally published on April 17, 2017 in the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/thomas-woodley/trudeau-syrian-civil-war_b_16031796.html" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a>.</em></p>
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<p>If only it were so easy. The leader of a war-torn Middle Eastern country commits an atrocity; the West removes him; problem solved. At least, that’s the way Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seems to see the future in Syria. Last week, Trudeau <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/syria-trudeau-assad-attacks-1.4063464">asserted</a> that Syrian president Bachar al-Assad must be excluded from any final peace agreement for that worn torn country. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/trudeau-government-calls-on-russia-to-end-support-for-syrias-al-assad/article34663599/">put it more bluntly</a>, “Assad must go.” </p>
<p>The only problem is, in addition to the support that al-Assad enjoys among certain groups within Syria, Trudeau has also forgotten about Russia, Iran, Hezbollah, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the Kurds, and the many other players who have a stake in what happens in Syria. What began with a boy writing anti-government graffiti in Daraa in 2011 is a full blown global crisis today.</p>
<p> </p>Mon, 17 Apr 2017 11:31:00 -0400Thomas Woodleyhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_04_17
Canadian Zionists Join World Wide Campaign to Mark Centenary of Balfour Declaration<div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 10px 25px;"><img class="img-polaroid" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/cjpme/pages/3811/attachments/original/1505837091/balfour.png?1505837091" alt="balfour.png" width="250" /></div>
<p><em>This article was originally published on April 13, 2017 on <a href="https://canadatalksisraelpalestine.ca/2017/04/13/canadian-zionists-join-world-wide-campaign-to-mark-centenary-of-balfour-declaration/" target="_blank">Canada Talks Israel Palestine</a>.</em></p>
<p>To Zionists, the “Balfour Declaration” has an almost mythical status – like the Magna Carta or the US Declaration of Independence. One hundred years ago, on November 2nd 1917, Britain’s Foreign Minister Arthur Balfour sent a letter to British Zionist Lord Rothschild, promising that Britain would help establish a “national home” for the Jewish people” in Palestine, which at that time was under the Ottoman Empire.</p>
<p><em>The 1917 “Balfour Declaration” promised British support for the creation of a “national home for the Jewish people” but to the disappointment of Zionists did not call for a “Jewish state”</em></p>Thu, 13 Apr 2017 12:02:00 -0400Peter Larsonhttp://blog-cjpme.nationbuilder.com/cjpme_blog_2017_04_13